Little Saigon

Little Saigon and Tendernob

Little Saigon and the Tendernob are two Tenderloin neighborhoods that are home to large immigrant populations and some of the best food in the city. Join us as we take you on the only food tour of this district and explore the flavors of Asia, the Middle East, and beyond!

The Mission

The Mission District

San Francisco's 1st neighborhood, The Mission District is still the heart & soul of this vibrant city. This area is so rich in culture, that we have 4 Mission food tours & 2 neighborhood walks.

North Beach

North Beach

North Beach is that rare thing -- a neighborhood that manages to be a perennial hit with tourists, and also to remain beloved by San Franciscans. It's San Francisco's Little Italy and the home of the beatniks.

Scenic Running

Scenic Running

Just a short run from the urban landscape of San Francisco's busy city streets you will find numerous trails and parks offering phenomenal views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the City Skyline and other gems.

Chinatown

Chinatown

Established in the 1840s, San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese community outside Asia. Our food and walking tours are 2nd to none.

Parrots!

Parrots!

Wild Parrots in San Francisco? Yes there are officially at least two flocks of wild Parrots here. These Parrots have evolved into a brand new species of parrot indigenous to San Francisco.

Little Saigon & The Tendernob Food Tour

We start this food tour in Little Saigon where we will enjoy Vietnamese food but then we venture into the Tendernob to try food from every corner of the globe on this most international of San Francisco food tours. This whole area is undergoing major transition, it doesn't yet have the notoriety of the Mission District only because not enough people want to venture into this neighborhood to dine, but that will change. As word gets out about all the new places to see and be seen, and the neighborhood icons are discovered in the process, watch out. As the hordes of San Francisco daily restaurant diners get their claws into this district, they won't be letting go anytime soon. So if you want to beat the inevitable lines and the masses that cause them, get here soon. A recent tour guest summed it up this way, "Everything is here, everything you expect, and much you don't

Little Saigon is home to San Francisco's Vietnamese population and some of the city's best places to find delicious and exotic Southeast Asian food. Vietnamese cuisine features a combination of 5 fundamental taste elements. These flavors make up the meal: spicy (metal), sour (wood), bitter (fire), salty (water) and sweet (Earth). Each dish has a distinctive flavor made from combining these elements. Common ingredients include: Asian fish sauce, shrimp paste,soy sauce, rice, fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables. Vietnamese recipes utilize lemongrass, ginger, mint, Vietnamese mint, long coriander, Saigon cinnamon, bird's eye chili, lime and basil leaves. Traditional Vietnamese cooking is greatly admired for its fresh ingredients, minimal use of oil, and reliance on herbs and vegetables. With the balance between fresh herbs and meats and a selective use of spices to reach a fine taste, Vietnamese food is considered one of the healthiest cuisines worldwide. Vietnamese cuisine is finally getting the acclaim it so rightly deserves.

The Tendernob is the area between Nob Hill proper and Little Saigon, but until fairly recently, it was just considered the Tenderloin. Because of it's location, this is a neighborhood of great contrasts. Immigrants from far-flung parts of the globe, the moneyed class from up the on Nob Hill, and a fairly recent influx of art students from the SF Art Institute, have produced a variety of eateries for any palate around the clock.

Here you will find old and well established fine dining restaurants, next door to Greek kitchens, Israeli markets and Napoli Pizza parlors. One block has a hookah lounge amidst several Pakistani restaurants where no alcohol is served, and all the buildings there are historic landmarks. Besides the KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) Yemeni, Moroccan, Ethiopian, Turkish and Soul Food, now the techies are moving into the neighborhood buying up old dive bars, gay bars, and even a transgender bar, and they are creating their own versions of public gathering spaces, and the neighborhood takes it in stride. The result of all this eclectic activity is fascinating and enticing, each new doorway promises a journey into it's space and the ecosystem within, which operates in a world unto itself. The establishments here are small and so intimate that the kitchens are visible to the patrons who are seated usually within earshot of the chef and his staff. And it's not uncommon that the kitchen staff will all be members of the same family, both young and old.

This ever-changing neighborhood has a very delightful assortment of eateries which create one of the most dynamic and surprisingly wonderful food tour itineraries to be found. Join renowned food-blogger Dan Chew, or globetrotter David Killian on a trek through this unexpected and compelling neighborhood on a food tour of epic variety as you discover new foods and flavors you'll never want to forget.